Seven Infants Abandoned at Ammathottil Cradle in Kozhikode Since August 2025
Seven infants have been received at the 'Ammathottil' electronic cradle at Government General Hospital in Kozhikode since the facility became operational on August 17, 2025, according to the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare. The most recent child was discovered in the cradle on May 5, 2026, bringing the total to seven in nine months.
Upon detection, the district council secretary and Sisu Vikas Bhavan manager receive instant alerts via a mobile app and notify the hospital's nursing superintendent. The infant is then moved to the labour ward for a medical evaluation, including weight, height, and age estimation. The State council general secretary assigns a name; the latest infant was named 'Agney'.
All case details are forwarded to the Sisu Vikas Bhavan manager, and the Child Welfare Committee determines placement. In Kozhikode, infants are referred to St. Vincent Home for adoption processing. A press release is issued by the district child protection officer, initiating a 60-day window for legal claims.
If no claim is made within 60 days, the child becomes eligible for formal adoption through designated government agencies. A second Ammathottil facility operates in Malappuram district, marking the expansion of the program in north Kerala. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.